How Long Should I Wait To Undergo A Chin Implant Revision?

Q: Dr. Eppley, when nis the best time to undergo a chin implant revision?

1) Since I want to change the implant as soon as possible, what is the ideal time to do a new operation at a clinical level? Would you wait 6 months to place the new, smaller implant to stabilize the tissues or should you do it sooner also to avoid greater enlargement of the tissues?

2) The first implant was positioned by making an internal access from the mouth, should the second revision surgery always be done from the inside or, to avoid traumatizing the same tissues for the second time, is it better to do it externally under the chin?

A:  In answer to your questions:

1) The earliest one should do a revision is 3 months to give the tissues adequate time to heal before re-injury. It would probably take that long as this point to have the new chin implant made.

2) While going external from under the chin (submental approach) has the least risk of infection and secondary wound breakdown that approach may not be possible based on where the screws are in the implant. Since the implant was pit in intraorally the direction of screw placement may make it impossible to remove the implant from below. That information remains to be obtained.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon